Sir Paul Holmes dies

Relevant offers

Broadcasting trailblazer Sir Paul Holmes has died at his beloved Hawke's Bay home surrounded by his family.

Holmes, 62, had been battling heart problems and the return of prostate cancer, which he recently said was more aggressive than before.

He ended his broadcasting career in November because of poor health and was a late addition to the New Year honours list, being made a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

He has been suffering for much of the past year from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy - a genetic heart condition that thickens muscles and restricts bloodflow - and from prostate cancer.

Holmes had four hours of open-heart surgery earlier last year in Auckland Hospital, including nearly a week in an induced coma as he recovered.

He was back in hospital in November after he got an infection.

''When you have a few health scares it makes you think and it provides an opportunity for perspective,'' he said at the time, as he stepped down from his role as a mainstay presenter for radio station Newstalk ZB.